A Handbook for New Stoics by Massimo Pigliucci and Gregory Lopez Summary
Transform your life with this 52-week Stoic practice guide that bridges ancient wisdom with modern challenges. Praised for making philosophy actionable, it's become essential reading in our anxiety-filled world - even helping relationships by countering negativity with timeless resilience strategies.
About the author
Massimo Pigliucci, co-author of A Handbook for New Stoics: How to Thrive in a World Out of Your Control, is a bestselling author and the K.D. Irani Professor of Philosophy at City College of New York. A leader in modern Stoic philosophy, he blends academic rigor with practical wisdom, drawing from his background in evolutionary biology and philosophy of science.
Pigliucci has authored 16 books, including How to Be a Stoic and The Quest for Character, and regularly contributes to The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and his Substack, The Philosophy Garden. His work focuses on translating ancient Stoic principles into actionable strategies for modern challenges like stress management and ethical decision-making.
Gregory Lopez, Pigliucci’s collaborator, is a practicing Stoic and founder of the New York City Stoics, co-founder of the Stoic Fellowship, and co-host of Stoic Camp New York. His essays in Stoicism Today and The Philosophers’ Magazine bridge theory and daily practice. Together, they developed the book’s 52-week program of exercises, which has been translated into 12 languages and adopted by therapists and leadership coaches worldwide. Their follow-up, Beyond Stoicism, expands this approach to 13 ancient philosophies. A Handbook for New Stoics remains a cornerstone text for secular philosophy communities, recommended by universities and mental health professionals for its evidence-based framework.
FAQs About This Book
A Handbook for New Stoics by Massimo Pigliucci and Gregory Lopez is a practical guide offering 52 weekly lessons to apply Stoic philosophy to modern challenges like stress and adversity. It blends ancient wisdom from Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius with actionable exercises to cultivate resilience, perspective, and intentional action.
This book is ideal for newcomers to Stoicism and anyone seeking tools to manage stress, improve emotional regulation, or integrate philosophy into daily life. It’s also valuable for seasoned Stoics looking for structured, year-long practice.
Yes, reviewers praise its accessible approach, combining timeless quotes, modern interpretations, and practical exercises. Readers note its effectiveness in building mental clarity and resilience, even if practiced flexibly rather than strictly over a year.
Each week focuses on a Stoic theme: an ancient philosopher’s quote is paired with a modern example, followed by a hands-on exercise. Topics range from controlling desires to practicing empathy, ensuring gradual skill-building.
The book emphasizes three core practices:
- Discipline of Desire: Aligning wants with what’s within your control.
- Discipline of Action: Acting ethically and virtuously.
- Discipline of Assent: Critically evaluating thoughts before accepting them.
While designed for a year, the authors encourage flexibility. Readers can adapt the pace or focus on specific lessons, making it suitable for both long-term commitment and targeted learning.
Central ideas include:
- The dichotomy of control (focusing only on what you can influence).
- Premeditation of adversities to reduce anxiety.
- View from above to gain perspective on problems.
Unlike theoretical guides, this handbook prioritizes actionable exercises over abstract concepts. It’s often recommended as a follow-up to introductory texts like Meditations or The Daily Stoic.
It tackles stress management, workplace challenges, relationship conflicts, and emotional resilience. Exercises teach reframing setbacks and responding calmly to uncontrollable events.
Yes, it includes quotes from Seneca (“We suffer more in imagination than in reality”), Marcus Aurelius (“You have power over your mind, not outside events”), and Epictetus, paired with modern applications.
Some readers find the year-long structure daunting, though the authors clarify flexibility. Others note repetitions of core Stoic concepts, which reinforce learning but may feel redundant to seasoned practitioners.
By practicing its exercises—like journaling, perspective-shifting, and discomfort exposure—readers develop self-awareness, emotional regulation, and a proactive mindset aligned with Stoic virtue.
While focused on self-guided practice, it indirectly encourages exploring primary texts like Letters from a Stoic (Seneca) and Discourses (Epictetus) for deeper study.
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"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
12117"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
12108"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
25417"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
964.5K"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
20116"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
37483"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
12117"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
12108"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
25417"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
964.5K"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
20116"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
37483"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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